MCHS football team preparing for season opener

• Every Monday through Thursday: Team workout at 7 p.m. at the high school, 900 Finley Lane.

• Aug. 9 through 13: MCHS football team camp at MCHS

• Aug. 16: First day of mandatory football practice

• Aug. 27: First game of the season against Evergreen at 7 p.m. at MCHS

Photo by Joshua Gordon

Moffat County High School football players run through offensive plays Thursday night at the MCHS field. The team opens the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at home against Evergreen.

Photo by Joshua Gordon

MCHS linemen work on footwork and positioning Thursday night. The coaches hold workouts at the school Monday through Thursday every week.

Kip Hafey, Moffat County High School football coach, said player participation in offseason summer workouts is key to team success this season.

“We have kids coming at least two out of the four days we workout during the week,” he said. “They are getting stronger, faster and learning the playbook.”

MCHS coaches offer the voluntary workouts Monday through Thursday every week at MCHS.

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are scheduled for players to be in the weight room, while Thursdays are reserved for speed training, conditioning and running through the playbook.

The team also attended a camp last month at the University of Wyoming.

“Wyoming was a really good camp for us,” Hafey said. “A lot of players showed improvement.”

Incoming junior Miguel Molina, a 16-year-old wingback, said he knew his team would have a good season this year after the Wyoming camp.

“I had a lot of fun at the camp mainly because I saw a lot of improvement,” he said. “Not just in myself, but in the team as a whole.”

Molina said for the team to be able to break into the playoffs this year, players need to work together to keep improving.

“If we can get everyone to show up and be in the weight room and work on getting faster, we will be where we need to be,” he said.

The next step for the 2010 football team is day camp Aug. 9 through 13 at the high school.

Hafey said coaches will focus on getting the team back in shape, and work on getting players acclimated to the offensive and defensive playbooks.

Aug. 16 marks the first day of mandatory practice for the whole team, less than two weeks before the first game against Evergreen on Aug. 27 at home.

“We have never had a zero week game before,” Hafey said. “We only have nine true days of practice before.”

No matter the preparation time, Hafey said the goal remains the same for his team – make the playoffs.

That may be easier this year with a change in how teams get in.

In past years, every league had a designated number of teams that made the playoffs and then one wildcard spot was handed out, Hafey said.

“The last three years, we have been the next team out,” he said. “There have been teams in that we have beat, but they had an easier league.”

This year, however, only the winners from each league are guaranteed a playoff spot, and a power scale, which includes strength of schedule, will decide the rest of the spots.

“Coming from our league, which is one of the better leagues around, I think we always have a shot at the playoffs because of the teams we face,” Hafey said. “If we get in, I think we have a real chance at the title.”

Incoming junior Wesley Chapman, a 16-year-old cornerback, also said he has high expectations for the team this year.

“We are getting faster and stronger,” he said. “I think the team can easily have a winning record this year and make the playoffs.”